What is ISASA?

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa is the largest and oldest association of independent (private) schools in the Southern African region. ISASA traces its origins to the Conference of Headmasters and Headmistresses, originally formed in 1929.

ISASA has more than 760 school members in South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zambia. Over 168,000 learners attend ISASA-affiliated schools.

ISASA is a non-profit, voluntary association and schools elect to apply for ISASA membership. Each member school pays an annual subscription fee and, in return, ISASA provides its members with a range of services. These include financial, advocacy, school best practice, professional development and other services.

ISASA does not own or manage any individual schools and is not a governing body for private schools.

ISASA’s vision is of a Southern Africa in which quality education is available to all learners, the value of independent education in contributing to this goal is recognised, and a value-based, public-spirited community of diverse, high quality independent schools is developed.